How to send money to Russia in 2025?

Why the 2025 restrictions don’t affect transfers with SendNOW — and how payouts to recipients in Russia works

This is a post on the SendNOW blog. We cover what changed in the rules for money transfers to Russia in 2025. We explain why SendNOW operates legally and reliably—and why our customers are protected from legal “surprises.”

What changed in 2025 in the rules for money transfers to Russia?

In 2025, requirements tightened for transfers between individuals and for informal routes:

Single-transfer cap of RUB 100,000 without an account under simplified identification. Starting May 30, 2025, sending more than RUB 100,000 without opening an account is allowed only after full identification—per the Bank of Russia’s guidance;
Up to a 2-day hold on transfers flagged as “without the customer’s consent.” Legal basis: National Payment System Law No. 161-FZ, Article 9, and Bank of Russia Order No. OD-1027 dated 27.06.2024 (effective 25.07.2024), which defines six indicators — per the Bank of Russia’s guidance;
Rosfinmonitoring’s authority to suspend transactions for up to 10 days. Amendments to Law No. 115-FZ effective June 1, 2025 — per the agency’s notice.

What this means in practice:

Transfers without an account over RUB 100,000 now require full identification. Informal or private transfer channels generally won’t pass compliance.
Banks must check transactions against the six indicators and may place a hold of up to two days for review. As a result, documentation requests and delays on one-off transfers between individuals are increasing.
Rosfinmonitoring can additionally suspend transactions for up to 10 days. The risk of an unpredictable hold is higher for transfers without a transparent legal chain.

Sending money to Russia under the 2025 rules: how SendNOW works

The new requirements adopted in 2025 do not affect SendNOW customers. We process transfers through a lawful chain of licensed entities with full KYC/AML checks. At the final step in Russia, a licensed financial entity makes the payout. As a result, transfers to Russia with SendNOW remain stable and fully compliant with regulatory requirements.

How SendNOW works for money transfers to Russia:

Preparation. Choose a payment method: bank card, bank account, or cryptocurrency (USDT/USDC—where permitted). Check your balance including fees; for crypto, keep your wallet or exchange open. In the SendNOW app, create a draft transfer: select the recipient’s country and currency—the system will show the required fields. Make sure the recipient has all the required details.
Set-up. In the app or web version, choose your payment method, payout currency, and amount. We immediately show the exchange rate, fee, and final amount to be credited. Enter the recipient’s details and confirm.
Payment. Pay by card, bank account, or cryptocurrency. For your first payment, complete KYC/AML verification.
Processing and payout. The payment enters processing and is routed for credit to the recipient. In Russia, a licensed legal entity credits the funds to the recipient’s bank card or account. The average transfer time is 2–3 hours, with a minimum of 5 minutes. The maximum time depends on the accuracy of the recipient’s details and the processing speed of their bank.
Tracking. Statuses are visible in the app; notifications arrive in the app and by email.

Why transfers to Russia via SendNOW are legal: every participant is licensed with a defined scope of responsibility, and we comply with regulatory requirements and our payment partners’ conditions.

Exchange rate and fee

Before you pay, the screen shows the exchange rate, the fee, and the exact amount to be credited.

Why the figures may differ from the Bank of Russia’s official rate:

Licensed participants. The chain involves payment institutions and a partner bank in Russia. Their work and liability are included in the transaction cost.
Compliance and risk control. Under payment system and bank rules, every transaction is reviewed—purpose, counterparties, and limits. These procedures are mandatory to process a transfer.
Interbank settlements. Currency exchange and transfers via correspondent banks incur fees and an interbank spread.
Volatility. To keep the stated credited amount, we factor in a price buffer for market fluctuations.

Bottom line. The exchange rate, service fee, and credited amount are shown before you set up the transfer. The additional fee for the selected payment method—from 0% (for crypto) to 4%—is displayed at the payment step before confirmation; you can cancel the payment.

Pay in any currency — payout in rubles

Pay the usual way: by bank card, from your bank account, or with a supported digital currency (USDT/USDC—where permitted). Conversion takes place within a chain of licensed partners under compliance rules.

The recipient in Russia receives rubles to their bank card or account. They don’t need to exchange currency themselves or take any extra steps.

SendNOW delivers payouts to bank cards and accounts across Russia

In the recipient’s payment documents, the credit is shown as a payout from a licensed operator. The recipient doesn’t need the sender’s original currency or payment method. This reduces the risk of extra barriers that can arise with direct transfers in certain currencies. All operations comply with applicable law and our payment partners’ rules.

What you need to know

Average transfer time is 2–3 hours; minimum is 5 minutes. The maximum time depends on the accuracy of the recipient’s details.
By law, you may be asked for documents: the purpose of the transfer, your relationship with the recipient, and the source of funds.

Questions & Answers

Is this legal? Yes. We operate under Federal Law No. 161-FZ (National Payment System) and No. 115-FZ (AML/CFT). The final payout is made by a licensed legal entity in Russia.

Why is this more reliable than informal channels? Because the route is transparent: licensed participants, KYC/AML checks, and permitted banks. There are fewer reasons for sudden holds.

Can I send more than RUB 100,000 without an account? Yes—but only after full identification, as required by law since May 30, 2025.

Bottom line

The 2025 restrictions do not hinder transfers with SendNOW. From the outset, we built the process as a lawful system with licensed participants at every stage. As a result, payouts are processed within the rules, and customers get fast transfers (on average 2–3 hours, as little as 5 minutes) and transparent pricing.

This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

In this post, we covered how to send money to Russia in 2025.